Gg

gabarn-na       

coverb (intr.)

 

to be fast, quickly
• Yawey wuji nga-ngan-nawu-ng garradin gabarn-na gahan mamin. 'Yes, that white man did not give me the money quickly.' (LM, text)
• Gabarn mi-di! 'Come quickly!' (PH)
• Gaba-gabarn mi-di! 'Come really quickly!' (LM)

gadamalga       

nominal

 

stone spear

 

see also jimbilang.

gahan       

demonstrative
stem gay- ~ gayh- (HL); plural gay-gorden ~ gayh-gorden (HL)

   1.

that, the
• Humbug ngan-yaha-ny gahan marluga. 'That old man humbugged me.' (LM, text)
• Bicycle gay-giwu, ngi-ga-jan-guju magu. 'We used to take those two bicycles over there.' (LM)
• Bunggu-bu-ni yonggorn-na gay-gorden lagiban. Gay-gunda now dowh-ma bunggu-bu-ni. 'The Aboriginal men struck at them first. Because of that, they shot them.' (LM, text)

   2.

there
• Nga-ya-nggi jorro-ma gahan. 'I went back there.' (LM, text)

gahanan       

locative nominal

 

that way
• Jamba gi-ya-ngana gahanan. Mahanan gi-ya-ngana. 'We can't go that way. We'll go this way.' (LM)

gajirri       

nominal

 

woman
• Nibulin ya-nggi nung gahan gajirri. 'She was his girlfriend, that woman.' (LM)

gakgalak       

nominal

   1.

moon
• Gakgalak werrh-ma ga-di-n. 'The moon is coming up.' (LM)

   2.

month
• Bornh ga-ba-ge-n wah-ba, ga-ba-bula-n gakgalak. 'They put it in the water, and leave it for a month.' (HL, text)

   3.

moon snake, legless lizard sp. Lialis burtonis

gakgawurin       

nominal
stem gakgawur-

 

long yam Diascorea transversa
• Bulu-buluman gakgawurin ngi-ma-jan. 'We used to get very big long yams.' (LM, text)

 

note: The yam of this plant is long and sometimes quite large. The flesh can be eaten raw, boiled or roasted, and is considered very good.

 

see also jambu.

galagala       

nominal

 

gall

 

see also dordokgin.

galambu       

nominal

 

northern quoll, also called native cat Dasyurus hallucatus
• Gahan galambu yaha-ny "yimbama-wu gu-bort-da-ja gahan!" 'The native cat said "people will die for good!"' (LM, text)

 

note: An excellent hunter that preys on lizards, rats and other small animals. It also likes to eat sugarbag.

 

see also wayibin.

galanduk       

nominal

 

yam sp. Trichoglochin dubium

galatj       

nominal

 

younger brother or sister
• Mahan nganing-gin galatj. 'He's my younger brother.' (PH)

galbanyin       

nominal

 

green plum Buchanania obovata
• Gin-ya lewa-yan galbanyin-gu. 'We're looking for green plum.' (HL)

 

note: This is highly valued and sought-after bush tucker. The fruit are eaten when they are ripe: green but soft to the touch. The entire fruit - seeds, skin and flesh - can be pounded up and then eaten. This pulp can also be made into a damper. Alternatively, the fruit can be dried in the sun. It then lasts a long time, and also tastes sweeter. However, this is less common; the fruit are generally collected from the ground and eaten immediately. The fruit are produced in the middle of the wet season. Sometimes they occur in massive numbers and hundreds can be collected from a single tree.

galbarra       

nominal
variant galbarrin (HL, opt.)

 

northern brown bandicoot Isoodon macrourus
• Galbarra ngarrme-ba ga-ba-yu guk-ga. 'Bandicoots live in hollow logs.' (LM)

 

note: These animals are often seen hunting for insects and roots after dark. They can be killed for meat when they are sitting on their grass nests, by hitting them with a stick. The flesh is roasted on hot coals and ashes after the guts are removed, and is very tasty and tender.

galbun       

nominal
variant galborn (HL)

 

whistling kite Haliastur sphenurus

galgarun       

nominal

   1.

bamboo sp. Phragmites vallatoria

   2.

short bamboo spear

galhgal       

nominal
dialect HL, PH

 

sitting
• Galhgal nga-ga-n berlin-leying wayi-tjjalbu. 'I'm carrying the kid on my shoulder.' (PH)

 

see also galh-ma.

galh-ma       

coverb (tr.)

 

to climb
• Galh-ma ngi-ya-ngga-jan garradin. 'We climbed the hill.' (HL)
• Ngan-galh-ma-yi nguyan-yi nardal. 'The ant climbed my finger.' (GH)

 

see also galhgal.

galijana       

nominal
dialect PH

 

black wattle Acacia auriculiformis

 

note: The leaves and fruit can be rubbed between the hands with a little water to make a soapy lather. The leaves and fruit can also be used as fish poison.

galikgin       

nominal

 

silky oak Grevillea pteridifolia

 

note: This tree has large orange flowers which contain sweet nectar. This can be sucked from the flowers and it is very tasty. The leaves can be used to improve the flavour of meat which is being roasted. Fresh leaves are placed in a ground oven with the meat, where they help to keep it moist and tender.

galin       

nominal

 

ironwood wax
• Galin, garnin-gu, nap-ba ge-ge-n garnin. 'Ironwood wax is used to stick spears together.' (HL)

 

see also wumirr, nerran.

galkgu       

nominal

 

cluster fig Ficus racemosa

 

note: The fruit can be eaten when ripe: orange with reddish stripes. However it is not considered very tasty, so it is normally only eaten when people are particularly hungry. Turtles and some fish also eat the fruit when they fall into creeks and billabongs.

galp-bu-yan       

n.f. verb (impfv., tr.)
also galp-bu-yh n.f. pfv

 

wiping
• Gidurtdal galp-bu-yan nga-ma-ji-ng. 'I wiped my nose.' (LM)
• Galp-bu-yh mee-ji gidurtdal! 'Wipe your nose!' (LM)

galwunin       

nominal

 

green tree snake Dendrelaphis punctulatus

gambangay       

nominal
dialect LM

 

firefly

 

see also linmulinmu.

ganborlbolin       

nominal
dialect LL

 

turkey bush Calytrix exstipulata

ga-ndi       

infl. verb (tr.)
root -ga-; past -ndi; ppfv -ng

 

to take, to carry
• Boss larima, nginggu-ga-ndi gay-ba, lah-leying. 'The two bosses took us back to the camp.' (LM, text)
• Wihya wuji nga-nga-ga-ndi gahan nendo! 'No, I didn't take that horse!' (LM, text)

 

see also wunh-na¹.

gangaman       

nominal
variant gangahman (HL)
stem gangama-

 

antilopine kangaroo Macropus antilopinus
• Nyukgin ga-ba-da, gangama-yi. 'Kangaroos eat sugarbag grass.' (LM)

 

see also garndalu, yunumburrgu.

gangan       

nominal
dialect HL, PH

   1.

fire-tailed lizard Morethia storri

   2.

skink sp. Carlia gracilis

gangga       

nominal
variant ganggaran (HL)

 

upriver
• Magu ga-ba-ya-guju gangga. 'That way those two are going, upriver.' (LM)
• Magu ganggaran ya-nginy, gorrh-ma, majal-gu. 'He went fishing upriver.' (HL)

ganggilang       

nominal

 

tobacco plug

ganjel-ma       

coverb (intr.)
dialect HL

 

to sit on your haunches

 

see also durdih-ma.

gan-na       

coverb (intr.)

   1.

to get lost
• Gan-na nga-ya-nginy. 'I got lost.' (HL)

   2.

to misrecognise
• Walya gan-na nga-ya-nggi-ma. Niji nganing-gin ngaha-ny nung, gan-na nga-ma-yi. 'I misrecognised him. I thought he was my uncle, but I was mistaken.' (LM)

ganya       

particle

 

also, too
• Lihwa-tjjondony gahan lagiban ma-bu-min. Jilimakgun ganya. 'That man is no good, I'll belt him. His wife too.' (LM)

 

see also nyama.

ganyimiyan       

nominal
stem ganyimiya-

 

that kind
• Lihwa ganyimiyan 'That kind of thing is no good.' (LM, text)
• Nga-ma-jan ganyimiyan bakga nga-ga-jan jorro-ma ala nganing-gin. 'I used to get that kind of tobacco and take it back to my mother.' (LM)

gapbut       

nominal

 

tomorrow
• Gapbut gi-ya-ngana. 'We'll go tomorrow.' (LM, text)

 

see also gapbutgapbut, gapbut neyenggun.

gapbut neyenggun       

nominal

 

another day
• Jamba gi-ya-ngana gahan lahan. Gapbut neyenggun gin-ya. 'We can't go to that place. We'll go another day.' (LM)

 

see also gapbut, neyenggun.

gapbutgapbut       

nominal

   1.

yesterday
• Gapbutgapbut di-nya gahan marluga. 'Yesterday the old man came.' (LM)

   2.

morning
• Maman nga-ya-nggi gapbutgapbut. Lawh-ma nga-ni-nginy maman nga-ya-nggi wilh-ma. 'I felt good this morning. I got up and went for a good walk.' (LM)

 

see also gawor-ubawo, gapbut.

gara       

nominal

 

dilly bag

garanggi       

nominal

 

mad
• Bulkgu-bulkgu wurrububu, ngurru-yi ga-na-n gordal-ma ga-durdurt-da-n. Garanggi ga-na-n gordal. 'He runs around in the heat of the middle of the day. He is mad.' (LM)

garingal       

nominal

 

star
• Longon-nehen, wolok garingal ga-yu, nga-nanda-n garingal. 'When there are no clouds, I can see the stars in the sky.' (HL)

garlarr       

nominal
variant galara (HL)

 

dilly bag

garlinyjin       

nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL

 

wild orange Capparis umbonata

 

note: The fruit can be eaten when they are ripe: pale green and soft to the touch. The fruit contain many seeds and the flesh is sweet and tasty.

garnamalin       

nominal

 

cheeky yam Amorphophallus paeoniifolius
• Gahan now ngi-de-jan, garnamalin, gakgawurin. 'We used to eat cheeky yams and long yams.' (LM, text)

 

note: The large yam can be dug up, cleaned and eaten. It needs extensive preparation, but when correctly prepared, it has a pleasant sweet taste. In the past, the large yams were cooked in the ground, or in water left over from preparing corned beef. Some of the yams are too "cheeky" to prepare for eating. The edibility of the yam is checked before it is dug up. The leaf is rubbed with water or spit and if it gives a sparkling appearance this shows that it can't be eaten, so it is left in the ground. The juice from the yam, stem and leaves is dangerous, and can cause severe skin irritation. Pigs eat the yams in large numbers and are responsible for the decline in numbers of this yam.

 

see also ngalyunginy.

garnanganyjan       

nominal

 

emu Dromaius novaehollandiae

 

note: In the past large groups of emus were fairly common, but now they are rarely seen. The flesh can be eaten and is very tasty. It is cooked in a large ground oven. The guts are taken out and hot stones are placed inside. Paperbark leaves are used to flavour the meat. The eggs can also be cooked and eaten. In the past, emus were hunted with spears. The hunter would be covered with mud to hide his smell. He would hide near a waterhole, near a track, or in a black plum tree, and spear the emu as it came in.

garnany-nya       

coverb (intr.)

 

(meaning unclear)
• Balp-ba ma-yi durrin, garnany badi-ng-ma lagarra. 'He trod on a snake, and it bit him on the leg.' (LM)

 

note: It is not yet known what this word means.

garnarr-ma       

coverb (intr.)
dialect HL, PH

 

to rustle
• Garnarr-ma ga-di-n. 'He's coming along rustling in the leaves.' (PH)

garnbik       

nominal

 

clapstick

garndabak-ga       

coverb (tr.)
variant garnabak-ga (HL)

 

to hit from behind with a weapon
• Garndabak nga-bu-ng wirin, majanga-yi. 'I belted him from behind with a nulla-nulla.' (LM)

garndalu       

nominal

 

doe kangaroo Macropus antilopinus
• Garndalu ga-ga-n warren, mahan-gu bip-ba ga-ga-n bindal-ba. 'Doe kangaroos carry their young in their pouches.' (LM)

 

see also gangaman, yunumburrgu.

garnditjjin       

nominal

 

worms
• Garnditjjin, gi-ma-n-ngana, gorrh-may-gu. 'We'll get worms for fishing.' (LM)

garndukwu       

nominal
variant garndukgu (HL, PH)

 

oldest brother

garnin       

nominal
stem garn-

   1.

spear
note: This is a general word for all kinds of spears.
• Ma-re-ja gahan gangaman, garnin-garang. 'I'm going to spear that kangaroo.' (PH)

   2.

snake sp.

garninyjan       

nominal

 

wattle spp. Acacia difficilis, platycarpa & oncinocarpa
• Garninyjan, wah-ba bornh-na ga-ba-ge-n, dorroh-ma ga-ba-ma-n, wirin, majalin bort ga-baa. 'They put wattle in the water, take it out again, and the fish all die.' (HL)

 

note: The stems of straight plants can be used to make small spear shafts. The stringy bark can be pulled off in long strips, and used for typing up wood, swags, and so on. The flowers and spikes of Acacia oncinocarpa can be ground up and used as "fish poison". This is thrown in the water, then the fish float to the surface and can be easily collected, cooked and eaten.

garnmurrin       

nominal

 

woollybutt Eucalyptus miniata & phoenicea

 

note: A small fire can be made from the flaky bark and used to heat the bends in spear shafts to allow them to be straightened. The hollow stems and branches can be used to make didgeridoos. Sugarbag (native bee-hives), which contain honey, wax and pollen, are often found in this tree. There are two types of garnmurrin: Eucalyptus miniata has yellowish bark and occurs on sandy plains, and Eucalyptus phoenicea has darker bark and occurs on elevated sandstone areas.

garradin       

nominal
stem garra-

   1.

rock
• Ga-yu wurnka-ma gahan lahan. Garradin-garradin-garang. Wut-da ngi-ma-ny-guju. 'That country is lonely. It is rocky. We didn't like it.' (LM, text)
• Gahan garradin gangama-yiga ga-yu, gahan buluman gijalkgin. 'That rock looks like a kangaroo, that big limestone rock.' (LM)

   2.

hill
• Galh ngi-yama-ny-guju gahan garradin. 'Us two climbed the hill.' (LM, text)

   3.

money
• "Garradin gi-gondo-n?" "Wihya, ngagun wihya, garra-nehen nga-ya." '"Do you have any money?" "No, not me, I have no money."' (LM, text)

garramben       

nominal

 

blue-winged kookaburra Dacelo leachii
• Nganku lamang garramben, karrawok karrawok karrawok karrawok, gahan-ma ga-jewo-n martdal, martdal lagiban-gunda, ga-ba-jewo-n-ma mangima-yi. 'When the kookaburra sings out, it means that the police are tracking someone.' (LM)

 

see also garrwukgarrwuk.

garrardarda       

nominal

 

breastplate

garratjjin       

nominal

 

spear grass Sorghum spp.
• Garratjjin, dorro-dorroh ngi-ma-ny-guju dabali. 'We pulled out the spear grass all around.' (LM, text)

 

note: The stages of growth of garratjjin indicate different seasonal cycles to the Wagiman people.

garreng       

nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL

 

mother
• Garreng nganing-gin gornkorn-na gi-ya-giwu. 'My mother and I are talking.' (PH)

 

see also ngal-garreng, ngala, ngalagunin.

garrkgany       

nominal

 

brown goshawk, also called chickenhawk Accipiter fasciatus

garrwukgarrwuk       

nominal

 

blue-winged kookaburra Dacelo leachii

 

see also garramben.

gartdan       

nominal

 

milky plum Persoonia falcata

 

note: The fruit can be eaten when they are ripe: green but soft to the touch.

gartgart-da       

coverb (intr.)

 

to laugh
• Gartgart-da ngi-yu-nginy nung-ma, ngagun biyakgin-giwu. 'We laughed at her, me and my sister.' (LM, text)

 

see also nu-gartgart.

gatjjin       

nominal

 

hawk sp.

gawor       

nominal

 

afternoon
• Ma-ya-min gorrh-ma menuny gawor. 'Maybe I will go fishing this afternoon.' (HL, text)

gawor-ubawo       

nominal
dialect PH

 

yesterday
• Gawor-ubawo nyongh-nga ni-nginy, gahan wayi-tjjalbu. 'Yesterday he was sick, that kid.' (PH)

 

see also gapbutgapbut.

gawu       

nominal

   1.

grandmother (mother's mother)
• Gawu-ya ga-ba-di-n-guju. 'Grandmother and a grandchild are coming up.' (LM)

   2.

grandchild (from a woman to her daughter's children)

 

see also ngal-gawu, ngal-gawu-mang.

gawurdu       

particle

   1.

enough
• Nungarin gornkorn-na gi-ya-ngga-jan-ngana, gawurdu nyenh-na gi-yebe-jan. 'We should have just talked once, then enough, we should have stayed quiet.' (HL, text)

   2.

finished
• Gawurdu ngaha ngorroju-giwu now? 'I've finished talking to you two now?' (CM, text)

 

see also yilkgawu.

gawuyarra       

interjection

 

good job
• Gawuyarra warren gerdo-gin-ngana ba-di-nya-guju jorro-ma. 'Good job our two kids have come back.' (LM, text)

 

note: This meaning is uncertain.

gayh-ma       

coverb (intr.)

 

to sing out, yell out, call out
• Gahan mamin jumbany-wu di-nya gayh yaha-ny ngerreju. 'The white man came behind and sang out to us.' (LM, text)

gelberre       

nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL
variants galberre (PH), gelbe (LL)

 

goanna sp. Varanus baritji

geletj-ja       

coverb (intr.)

 

to be the new moon
• Geletj la-ng gakgalak. 'The moon is new.' (PH)

gelgel-ma       

coverb (intr.)
dialect HL, PH

 

to be shiny
• Gelgel-ma ga-yu, nimurdal. 'She's got shiny teeth.' (PH)

 

see also ma-gelgel.

gelyengh-nga       

coverb (intr.)

 

to cough
• Jahan-gu gelyengh-gelyengh gi-ya-ma? Ngeyngey-yi gunyju-ma-n? 'Why are you coughing? Have you got a cold?' (LM)

 

see also ngutjjurh-ma.

gelyeng-nga       

coverb (intr.)

 

to be raw
• Mahan gelyeng-nga-wu ga-yu lamang. Wuji ga-na-ni. 'This meat is raw. It has not been cooked.' (LM)

ge-na       

infl. verb (tr.)
root -ge-; past -na; ppfv -ng; fut vowel can change to i

   1.

to put
• Guda-leying garradin ba-ge-na. 'They put the rocks on the fire.' (PH)
• Lawel ngan-ge-na-ma, nganing-gin bohbo-yi. 'My auntie dressed me (put clothes on me).' (LM)
• Balarrin ge-na nganung burrhburr-ma ma-ya-min. 'He put white ochre on me, I will dance.' (LM)
• Jimirndirr nganing-gin barri-ba yurrh-ma ngu-ge-na? 'My knife, where have you lot hidden it?'

   2.

to plant
• Nganku custard apple nge-ge-na mahan. 'We planted custard apples here.' (LM, text)

   3.

to cause (in complex predicates)
• Ngal-martdiwa gahan, borndedi gahan dabunyh-nya ge-na. 'The old lady filled the billycan.'
• Guda gahan bort nge-ge-ng? 'Did you put the fire out?'

gengelk       

nominal

 

wattle sp. Acacia leptocarpa

 

note: When this tree produces yellow flowers, it indicates that turtles will have laid their eggs, so they can be dug up, cooked and eaten.

gengh-nga       

coverb (tr.)

 

to choke
• Gengh-nga ma-yi neyenggun marluga. 'He choked the other old man.' (LM)
• Gengh-nga ma-ji-na. 'He choked himself.' (LM)

gerdo-gin       

pronoun
variant ngerdo-gin (HL, opt.)
1pl. genitive

 

our, ours
• Gahan-di gerdo-gin warren me-gondo may-laying! 'They're our kids and we're going to keep them here!' (LM)

gerr-ma       

coverb (tr.)

 

to twist
• Mahan martdal gerr-ma nga-ma-ji-ng. 'I twisted my foot.' (LM)

getder       

nominal

 

red lily Nelumbo nucifera

getj-ja       

coverb (tr.)

 

to ask
• Nganing-gin ngal-warlang-yi getj-ja ngan-ge-na garradin-gu. 'My wife asked me for money' (PH)
• Garra-gu nga-ba-getj-ja-n. 'I'll ask them for money.' (HL)
• Gahan labingan getj-ja-yan ya-nggi dangany-gu. 'That kid was asking for tucker.' (LM)

 

see also ngorrk-ga.

getna       

coverb (tr.)
variant gitna (HL)
does not take the -ma suffix

 

to give a good hiding
• Wuji ga-nga-ja wihya. Getna ma-bu! 'He doesn't listen. I'll give him a good hiding!' (LM)

gidik-ga       

coverb (tr.)

 

to tickle
• Gidik-ga-yan ga-ba-ma-ji-n-giwu. 'They're tickling each other.' (PH)

 

see also nu-gidik-ga.

gidurtdal       

nominal

   1.

nose
• Gidurtdal gururu-ma nga-yu. 'My nose is running.' (PH)

   2.

face
• Jern-yi ginggu-bu-n-ngana gidurtdal. 'The smoke is getting in our faces.' (LM)

gijalkgin       

nominal

 

limestone
• Worrok-gay-gu ga-yu gahan gijalkgin. 'Limestone is used for washing.' (LM)

giminy       

nominal

   1.

gum
• Giminy, bak gi-ma-n giminy wir-gunda. Damorom-ba lem ge-ge-n, jungh-jungh-jungh-jungh gi-ga-n. 'You get gum from a tree. You put it in your mouth, and suck on it.' (HL)

   2.

camel tree

ginahan       

locative nominal

 

somewhere
• Ga-ba-guk-ga-n ginahan marak-ba. 'They're sleeping somewhere in the leaves.' (HL)

ginaman       

nominal

 

poor thing
• Yawey, ginaman, ba-bu-ni. Berrh ba-ra-ng gay-leying, gijalkgin, lem-lem, bunggu-re-na. 'Yes, poor things, they shot them. They threw them in the limestone cave.' (LM, text)

ginawiying       

locative nominal

 

somewhere
• Magu ginawiying nga-bula-ndi bakga. 'I left the tobacco somewhere over there.' (HL)

ginkin-na       

coverb (intr.)

 

to make a roaring noise

ginmarrin       

nominal
variant ginhmarrin (HL)

 

tendon

ginwurrin       

nominal
variant ginurrin (HL, PH)
stem ginwu-

 

mucus, snot
• Ngeyngey lihwa-tjjondony nga-gondo-n. Nu-dardatj-ja ga-ya gahan ginwurrin. 'I have a bad cold. The mucus is hard.' (LM)

gipmun       

nominal
dialect HL, PH

 

wax

girribuk       

nominal

 

Torresian imperial pigeon Ducula spilorrhoa

git-da       

coverb (tr.)

 

to stab
• Git ba-ra-ng-ma gahan lagiban, jimirndirr-garang. 'They stabbed that man with a knife.' (LM)

gitjjiya       

nominal

   1.

today
• Ma-dipba wahan gitjjiya mahan gu-rinyi-min. 'I will make it rain here today.' (LM, text)

   2.

now
• Ah jamba gu-ya-ma! Gu-yu-ngana gitjjiya! 'Ah don't you lot go! You lot stay now!' (LM, text)

giwurrk-ga       

coverb (intr.)

 

to sulk
• Jahan-gu giwurrk-giwurrk gi-ya? Many-bu-yarra getna-ma! 'Why are you sulking? I'll give you a hiding!' (LM)

giyak¹       

nominal

 

law
• Giyak-leying ga-ba-ge-n, mululuk. 'They put him through the law, an initiate.' (LM)

giyak²       

nominal
variant giyak-gin (HL opt., PH)

 

rubbish
• Giyak-giyak ga-ba-yu dul-ma minyga-minyga, lah-leying. 'There is rubbish lying all over the camp.' (LM)

giyakgiyak       

nominal

 

everything
• Laundry, worrok-worrok sheet-buga, labali, lari labali, clothes nganku. Giyakgiyak worrok-ga ngi-ma-jan. 'In the laundry we washed sheets, trousers, shirts, clothes, what's it... We used to wash everything.' (LM, text)

giyuk-ga       

coverb (intr.)

 

to spit
• Ngatjbarra giyuk-ga mi-ya-ngga! 'Go away to spit!' (LM)

 

see also dagelin, jubak-ga.

gobe-na       

infl. verb (ambitr.)
root -gobe-; past -na; also gobe-yan n.f. impfv, gobe-yh n.f. pfv

 

to lie
• Wihya-ngala ga-ba-gobe-n-guju wuji ga-ba-rinyi-ra-ja-guju wir-gunda. Ba-bu-ji-na-guju-ma. 'No, they are lying. They didn't fall from the tree. They were fighting.'
• Ngani-gobe-na-guju. 'You two lied to me.'
• "Mu-berda-ja borroju! Gi-ya magu worrok-gay-gu lawel" gobe-jan. '"You lot cook for them! We're going over there to wash clothes" she used to lie.'
• Ga-gobe-n ngonggo gahan, nugan wayi-tjjalbu. 'He lied to you, that little boy.' (LM)
• Gobe-yh ngan-yaha-ny gahan lagiban. 'That man lied to me.' (LM)

 

see also no-gobey-gobey.

gobol       

nominal

 

grey hair
• Ngal-martdiwa gahan gobol-garang. 'The old woman has grey hair.' (LL)

gogort       

nominal

 

fog

gokgo       

particle

   1.

still, yet
• Pamngurlu wayiny gokgo. 'Pamngurlu was still a baby.' (LM, text)
• Lollywater-binyju ba-ma-jan nendo-garang. Wuji ba-ma-jan, wahan nu-minyjan gokgo-wu gahan. 'They only used to get soft drink. There wasn't any beer yet (at that time).' (PH, text)

   2.

wait
• Gokgo me-yobe mahan! 'Wait here!' (LM, text) note: Literally, this means 'stay here still'. So the 'wait' meaning is really only an extension of the 'still, yet' meaning.

golgol       

nominal
dialect LM

 

frog sp.

golp-ba       

coverb (tr.)
dialect PH, LL

 

to hook up a woomera
• Golp-ba ga-ma-n-wu, manggarlin. 'He's hooking up a woomera.' (PH)

golpbon       

nominal
dialect HL, LL

 

ribs
• Golpbon-leying ngan-dalh-ma-yi. 'He punched me in the ribs.' (LL)

 

see also ngumirtdal.

gomow       

nominal

   1.

string, rope
• Gahan nganku gomow ngonong-nga-yiga debed-a ba-bu-ni, darrp-bay-gu lawel. 'They tied up a rope for hanging out clothes.' (LM, text)
• Gomow bitjjirriny-nya ga-ba-bu-n, marun bitji-ba ga-bu-n, lagarra-wu-leying. 'They are rolling banyan to make string.' (LM, text)

   2.

necklace worn by widows
• Gomow dirrk-ga ga-ba-ga-n ngangirdal-leying. 'They tie necklaces around their necks.' (PH)

   3.

jail
• Ya-nginy now gomow-gu ba-ga-ndi. 'He went now, they took him to jail.' (HL, text)

gondo-yi       

infl. verb (tr.)
root -gondo-; past -yi; ppfv -ny

   1.

to have
• Garradin gi-gondo-n? 'Do you have any money?' (LM)
• Marluga! Lagiban larima ngi-gondo-yi-guju, Kaiser, Tommy Taylor. 'Men! We each had a boyfriend, Kaiser and Tommy Taylor.' (LM)

   2.

to keep
• Mi-gondo-ja nganung may-giwu warren! 'Keep these two kids for me!' (LM)

gongork       

nominal

 

brains
• Gongork wirriny-nya ga-ya. 'His brains go round and round (he is silly).' (PH)

gopborl       

nominal
variant gupburl (HL, PH, LL)

 

whip snake Demansia atra & olivacea

 

note: The bite is not deadly, however it can cause pain and severe swelling.

gordal       

nominal
variant gohrdal (HL)

 

head
• Gay-gunda gordal wirriny-nya nga-ya-nggi. 'From that my head went round in circles.' (PH, text)

gordo-gin       

pronoun
variant ngordo-gin (HL, opt.)
2pl. genitive

 

belonging to you lot
• Bohbo-yi ma-yi danganyin gordo-gin-guju warri-giwu? 'Did auntie get tucker for you two kids?' (LM)

gordok-ga       

coverb (intr.)

 

to have a headache

gordotj-ja       

coverb (intr.)

 

to nod
• Gordotj-ja nga-yu. 'I'm nodding.' (HL)

 

see also duwatj-ja.

gori       

nominal
variant gore (HL, PH, LL)

 

charcoal

gorlododok       

nominal

   1.

peaceful dove Geopelia placida

   2.

bar-shouldered dove Geopelia humeralis

gorlondin       

nominal

 

thick forest, jungle, monsoon forest
• Yerderdengh ga-ba-yu-guju magu gorlondin-ba. 'Those two are hiding in the jungle.' (LM)

 

see also malitjjin.

gornkorn-na       

coverb (intr.)

 

to talk
• Gornkorn-na nga-ya-nggi Wagiman, wayi-gama. 'I spoke Wagiman when I was a kid.' (LM)
• Gornkorn nga-ngaha-ny nung gahan jilimakgun, nga-ngotjje-ji-na. 'I wanted to talk with that woman, but I was too scared.' (PH)

 

see also ngili-ma, yurn-na.

gorokgorokgin       

nominal

 

bush apple Syzgium eucalyptoides ssp. bleeseri & eucalyptoides

 

note: The fruit of ssp. bleeseri can be eaten when they turn from pale pink to almost white. The fruit can get quite large and the flesh is sweeter than the other bush apples. The fruit of ssp. eucalyptoides are eaten when they turn red. The flesh is quite thin and the seed large, however the flesh has a pleasant, sharp taste. The fruit are often produced in large quantities.

goron       

nominal
stem goro-

 

house
• Goron maman ngi-dipba-jan. 'We made a good house.' (LM, text)
• Lahan ba-dipba-jan goron-ma nganku, wolon-yi. 'They used to make houses out of grass.' (LM)
• Goro-leying ga-ba-yu guk-ga. Ga-ba-dipba-n goron wayi-tjjalbu. Lemh ga-ba-yu, wahan ga-rinyi-n. 'They're living in a humpy. They make a small house, and go inside when it rains.' (LM)

gorrh-ma       

coverb (intr.)

 

to go fishing
• Larima ngal-martdiwa, gorrh-ma ba-yu-nginy-guju. 'The two old ladies were fishing.' (LM, text)
• Gi-ya-ngana wilh-ma gorrh-ma-ga. 'We're walking to the river to go fishing.' (HL)

gorritj-ja       

coverb (intr.)

 

to be nice
• Nga-guk-ga-yi-ma gorritj-ja. 'I was sleeping nicely.' (LM)
• Gorritj-ja ga-ba-da-ma danganyin. 'They're eating nice tucker.' (LM)

 

see also no-gorritj-ja.

gorro       

particle

   1.

later
• "Gorro jorro mu-di-guju woerrkgem namawu" ba-yama-jan ngerreju. '"You two come back later and do some more work," they used to say to us.' (LM, text)

   2.

tried but failed
• Gorro nga-nga-nawu-ndi matjjin, but nga-ngotjja-yi. 'I tried to say something to her, but I was scared.' (HL)
• Gorro ga-da-ny wahan wihya. Gahan wahan nganku-yiga-ma yu-nginy-ma, marnakgin-yiga-ma. 'She tried to drink the water, but no. That water was like what's it, like beeswax.' (LM, text)

gorrokgorrok       

nominal
dialect HL, PH

 

dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis

gort-da       

coverb (tr.)

 

to hit in back of the head or neck
• Warren, labingan ba-bu-ni. Gort ba-bu-ng. 'They killed a child. They hit him in the back of the head.' (LM, text)

gotjjokgotjjok       

nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL

 

common bronzewing pigeon Phaps chalcoptera

gotjjonon       

nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL

 

wild banana Marsdenia viridiflora

gotnon       

nominal

 

magpie goose Anseranas semipalmata
• Wirin ga-ga-n mada-k-madaru nganku gotnon-gu gu-bu-ja-min. 'He has a short throwing stick to kill geese with.' (LM)

 

note: The flesh is very tasty and magpie geese are highly sought after. The flesh is roasted in the coals of a fire after the feathers have been singed off and the guts removed. Often the meat is flavoured with paperbark leaves dipped in water, which moisten the meat and improve the flavour. Magpie geese can be hunted by swimming quietly underwater to where they are feeding and then staying underwater by breathing through a hollowed bamboo stem. As the geese duck their head under the water to feed, they can be grabbed by the neck and quickly strangled.

gubam       

nominal

   1.

hill
• Menuny gubam-laying jumbany. 'Maybe it's behind that hill.' (PH)
• Gubam-leying galh-ma mi-ya-ngana. 'We'll climb the hill.' (PH)

   2.

island

gubiji       

nominal

 

bone
• Ba-da-yi watj, ba-da-ny gahan lamang. Gubiji-binyju yu-nginy. 'They ate up all the beef. Only the bones were left.' (LM, text)

gu-bing-ay       

nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL

 

firestick
• Gu-bing-ay, bing-bing-nga ga-ga-n gu-bing-ay. 'A firestick is taken along glowing.' (PH)

gu-burnburnin       

nominal

 

dry
• Mahan lawel gu-burnburnin ga-yu. 'These clothes are dry.' (HL)

guda       

nominal

   1.

fire
• Guda ngi-dip-ba-yi-guju, ngi-berda-ng-guju danganyin borroju. 'We made a fire and cooked tucker for them.' (LM, text)
• Guda gahan ngarr-ngarr da-nginy-ma. 'The fire caught alight.' (LM)

   2.

firewood
• Marluga ngerrp-ba ga-du-n, guda. 'The old man is cutting firewood.' (LM)

   3.

gun
• "Ma-du-yarra gahan marluga guda-yi!" yaha-ny. '"I will shoot that old man with a gun!" he said.' (LM, text)

   4.

light
• Gahan bort me-ge nganku guda! 'Turn that light off!' (LM)

 

see also yorndon.

gu-dardatj-jan       

nominal
dialect HL, PH

 

strong
• Gu-dardatj-jan ga-ya wilh-ma. 'He's walking strong.' (HL)

 

see also dardatj-ja.

gugarra       

nominal

 

red ochre

 

see also balarrin.

gugit       

nominal

 

narrow
• Let-da ginggu-nanda-n, gugit-yi nibulin. 'He's looking at us with narrow eyes.' (HL)

gugiwu       

nominal

 

true
• Gugiwu-yi ngan-nawu-ndi matjjin. 'He gave me the true story.' (HL)
• Wihya gugiwu ngaa! 'No, I'm telling the truth!' (LM)

gujalin       

nominal
stem gujal-

 

sweet potato, also called bawutjin or badju Brachystelma glabriflorum

 

note: The small tuber can be dug up and eaten. It can be eaten raw or roasted and it is sweet and considered good eating. The small, dark, bell-like flowers point in the direction of other yams. The bean-like fruit can also be eaten without any preparation. In the past, large numbers of these yams could be collected, but there are less around these days.

gu-jilirr-man       

nominal

 

wet
• Gu-jilirr-man lawel darrp mu-ge! 'You lot, hang up the wet clothes!' (LM)

 

see also jilirr-ma.

gujingga       

nominal

 

corroboree style involving clapping boomerangs
• Werrinyin ga-bu-n, gujingga. 'He's singing a gujingga corroboree.' (PH)

gujirritj       

nominal
stem gujirr-

 

cold
• Gahan lahan gujirritj-ma. 'That country is cold.' (LM, text)
• Gujirritj-yi ngan-ma-n. 'I'm cold.' (HL)

 

see also gujirritj-ja.

gujirritj-ja       

coverb (intr.)

 

to be cold
• Mahan bolwon ga-durdurt-da-n gujirritj-ja. 'A cold wind is blowing.' (LM)

 

see also gujirritj.

guk-ga       

coverb (intr.)

 

to sleep, to be asleep
• Nga-rinyi-ng guk-ga. 'I fell asleep.' (HL)
• Boran-leying nga-guk-ga-yi. 'I was sleeping by the river.' (PH)
• Dorong-nga-wu ma-guk-ga. 'I will sleep sated.' (PH)
• Larrweng-nga-wu ga-yu. Guk gaha-ny. 'His eyes are still open. He should have gone to sleep.' (PH)
• Ga-yu guk-ga gahan labingan. 'The baby is asleep.' (LM)
• Guk-ga nge-ge-na gahan warri-buga? 'Did you put the kids to sleep?' (LM)

 

see also worr-ma.

gulhgul-ma       

coverb (tr.)
dialect PH, LL

 

to gulp
• Gulhgul-ma ga-da. 'He's gulping it down.' (PH)

gulin       

nominal

 

water yam Diascorea bulbifera

 

note: The large hairy yam can be dug up and eaten after it has been carefully and thoroughly prepared. The flesh is boiled, then sliced, then placed in running water for a few days. It is then ready to eat.

gulirritda       

nominal
variants gulilitda (HL), guliwitda (LL)

 

peewee, also called magpie lark Grallina cyanoleuca
• Gayh-ma ga-ni ngonong-nga now. "Gulilit gulilit gulilit" ga-yu gayh-ma. 'It sings out like that now. "Gulilit gulilit gulilit" it sings out.' (HL)

 

note: This bird is considered a nuisance because it often alerts game to the presence of a hunter.

gulitj-ja       

coverb (tr.)
dialect HL

 

to stir
• Gulitj-gulitj-ja ga-ma-n tea. 'He's stirring the tea.' (HL)

 

see also wilitjwilitj-ja.

gulp-ba       

coverb (intr.)

   1.

to fall down
• Gulp nga-nga-rinyi-ng-ma. No-boritj-ja gahan lahan, wah-gunda. 'I nearly fell down. That ground is slippery because it's wet.' (LM)
• Dowh le-na. Gulp linyi-ng ngal-martdiwa. 'He shot her. The old woman fell down.' (LM, text)

   2.

to be born
• Gulp ngi-rinyi-ng gay-ba. 'You were born there.' (LM, text)

 

see also linyi-ra.

gumilan       

nominal
dialect LL

 

sand palm Livistona inermis

 

see also merrepben.

gumit       

nominal

   1.

skin
• Wirrilh ngaha-ny, lagiyi nganing-gin gumit. 'My skin has gone red.' (LM)

   2.

skin (as in subsection)
• Gahan gumit lihwa ga-ba-ya-guju. 'Those two are the wrong skins to be married.' (LM)

gumuny       

nominal

 

desert

gu-nawutj-jan       

nominal

   1.

heavy
• Gu-nawutj-jan gahan garradin. 'That rock is heavy.' (PH)

   2.

heavy (of language)
• Gu-nawutj-jan matjjin gahan, gornkorn-na ga-yu. 'He talks heavy language.' (LM)

 

see also nu-nawuja.

gunbarrin       

nominal

 

sand goanna Varanus gouldii

 

note: The flesh may be eaten after cooking. It is excellent food. They can be found while they are moving around looking for food, or tracked to their burrow and then dug up. Specially trained goanna dogs are also used to sniff out the burrows and tracks. Larger specimens may be speared, though sticks and rocks may also be used to kill them. All meat from the goanna is considered to be good food. Generally they are gutted, and cooked belly down on a bed of coals until the skin whitens, then turned belly up and cooked some more.

gungarak       

nominal

 

blue-tongue lizard Tiliqua scincoides

 

note: The flesh may be eaten after cooking on hot coals. Blue-tongues are caught by hitting them on the head with a stick or rock. They can give a nasty bite, and when they are angry they flatten their body onto the ground.

guningartngart       

nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL

 

grey-crowned babbler, also called happy family bird Pomatostomus temporalis

 

note: Often seen in large noisy groups.

gunubuya       

nominal
variant gunu (HL, PH)

 

stinking
• Gunu ga-ya lamarra. 'The dog stinks.' (HL)

gunyjan       

nominal
stem gunyja-

   1.

ground
• Laybul gu-ba-ya gunja-ba. 'The spirits will stay in the ground.' (LM, text)

   2.

dirt
• Gunyjan ga-gondo-n nibulin-laying. 'He's got dirt in his eye.' (PH)

gunyukban       

nominal

   1.

black-headed python Aspidites melanocephalus

   2.

carpet python Morelia spilota

   3.

children's python Liasis childreni

 

note: This word is primarily used to refer to the black-headed python, although it can also be used to refer to the carpet snake. The carpet snake does not occur much in Wagiman territory, being found more towards the coast. The flesh can be eaten. It is cooked by coiling the snake into a hole with coals in it, then adding more coals on top. These snakes are normally only seen at night.

gurduk       

nominal

   1.

sacred, restricted
• Gurduk-garang gahan lahan. Lagiban jamba ga-ba-ya gayh-ga. 'That place is a sacred site. Men aren't allowed to go there.' (HL)

   2.

dangerous
• Guda jahan-gu bing-bing-nga gi-ma-n? Gurduk-ma gahan! 'Why are you waving that torch around? That is dangerous!' (LM)

guritjjin       

nominal

   1.

firestick tree

   2.

firestick
• Birtbirt-da ga-yu guda ga-dipba-n, guritjjin-garang. 'He is rubbing firesticks, making a fire with firesticks.' (LM)

gurk-ga       

coverb (intr.)
dialect HL, PH, LL

   1.

to be lumpy
• Mahan gurk-ga nga-yu eh lari. 'I've got a lump on my arm here.' (HL)

   2.

to be swollen
• Gurk-ga ga-yu lagarra. 'His leg is swollen.' (HL)

 

see also nu-gurk-ga, bowh-ma.

gurnagun       

nominal

   1.

fat (as in having a lot of flesh)
• Gay-giwu gurnagun ba-na-ni-guju. 'Those two have become fat.'

   2.

fat (as in actual body fat)

gurnangartngart       

nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL

 

white-breasted sea eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster

 

note: This eagle eats fish and turtles and is well known for its hunting skills.

 

see also bamdakgan.

gurndan       

nominal
dialect LL

 

bottle tree, also called boab Adansonia gregorii

 

note: There are some bottle trees planted around Pine Creek and Claravale. These have been grown from seeds brought from the Timber Creek area. The tree is not native to Wagiman country, which probably explains why speakers differ in what name they have for it.

 

see also guruwan.

gurnurtdu       

nominal
dialect PH, LL

 

dilly bag

gurnuwu       

nominal

 

knocked out
• Duh nga-ra-ng nardal-yi-ma, gurnuwu nga-bu-ng. 'I punched him and knocked him out.' (LM)

gurrh-ma       

coverb (tr.)

 

to dig
• Gunyjan gahan gurrh-gurrh nga-bu-ng. 'I dug up the ground.' (LM)
• Jahan-gu gurrh-ma gu-ma-n gahan welin? 'Why are you lot digging that hole?' (PH)
• Warragan-nyamu gurrh-ma-yan ngi-ma-jan-ngana. 'We also used to dig to get ground sugarbag.' (PH, text)
• Gurrh-ma ba-jewo-ndi wahan, bony-bony-nyuy di-nginy. 'They dug following the water until it came bubbling up.' (LM)
• Gurrh-gurr-ma nga-ya-nggi, witchetty. 'I went digging witchetty grubs.' (LM, text)

gurruwitj       

nominal

 

car
• Mangima-yi yit-da bu-ni gahan gurruwitj. 'A policeman stopped the car.'

gururu-ma       

coverb (intr.)

 

to flow
• Pipe dowk linyi-ng, wahan ga-di-n gururu-ma. 'The pipe cracked, and now the water is flowing out.' (LL)
• Nibulin gururu-ma ga-ru-n-ma. 'She is crying.' (LM)

guruwan       

nominal

 

bottle tree, also called boab Adansonia gregorii

 

note: See comments under the entry for gurndan.

 

see also gurndan.

guwaluman       

nominal

 

long-nosed native bee Triota sp.

guwaylum       

nominal
dialect HL, PH

 

pigeon sp.

guwerek       

nominal
variant guwerak (HL, LL)

 

bush stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius

 

see also winduk.

guwirdal       

nominal

 

testicles

guyarru       

nominal

 

barn owl Tyto alba

guyet       

nominal

 

dry
• Guyet na-ni garratjjin dil-may-gu. 'The spear grass has dried up ready for burning.' (LM)

guyim       

nominal

   1.

hurting
• Ah guyim-garang nga-na-n nibulin! 'Ah, my eyes are starting to hurt!' (LM, text)

   2.

sore
• Jalng-nga ga-yu guyim nganung-ma lari-ba. 'The sore on my arm is running.' (LM)

guy-ma       

coverb (intr.)

 

to be heaped up, piled up, stacked up
• Danganyin nu-naw-ma, guy-ma ga-ni. 'There's a big pile of tucker.' (HL)
• Guy-ma me-ge guda! 'Heap up the firewood!' (HL)